Woman forgives teen who hit husband, killing him
KING CITY, Ore. - The widow of the man killed on his motorcycle Thursday night says she forgives the 15-year-old driver who hit him.
Dale Smith, 66, of King City, was struck by a teen driver with a learner's permit as he rode on Southwest Roy Rogers Road near Scholls-Sherwood.
Smith and his wife, Christie, have seven children, 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
They were planning to move to their dream home in a few months when Dale retired from his job as service director at Landmark Ford.
Christie said Dale loved riding his 1999 Harley Road King, and he prioritized safety, always wearing a helmet.
"There are some men that are just one with their bike, like John Wayne on his horse, it was never like it was an effort for him to ride," she said. "He loved riding, it was his passion, and I wouldn't take that away from him."
Investigators believe the teen driving the Chevy Suburban that hit Dale Smith's Harley first veered right onto the shoulder then overcorrected, crossing the centerline, hitting Dale. He died at the scene.
Despite losing the man she loved so much, Christie Smith has a message of empathy for the 15-year-old girl behind the wheel.
"I feel very bad for her. You know it wasn't a purposeful thing she did. It was an accident," she said. "We forgive the young woman and we hope that she's able to move on. She's a child. One of my children could have been driving that car."
One of the passengers in the Suburban had a valid driver's license. No one in that vehicle was injured and no charges have been filed as the investigation continues.
Sorry for your lose. A long time ago I knew a Dale Smith who was the owner of Dale Smith Trucking out of Oregon City. Would this sadly be the same Dale Smith?
And total, irrevocable forgiveness will come just after her insurance company settles for 2 million plus attorney fees.
Cecil Smith...you are truely a Fool.....and a SA...
 @Cecil Smith Your insight is like having a flashlight in a deep, dark cave.
With dead batteries.
You learn to drive on busy highways and no one is to blame. Im sure the girl is torn up as well as all family and friends of both parties. God speed to you all!
Here is some bible passages about forgiveness, Mark 11:25 and 26 and Ephesians 4:31 and32
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 @Jim330rifle How about these instead.. Numbers 31: 17-18
In light of this tragedy Christie Smith has shown tremendous courage, strength and sound judment. I commend her for being a shinning example of true humanism to her family, the young driver and the community.
 @OliverNicholas I agree with you!Forgiveness is a powerful thing!
Ugh, why do people put their young teens into such huge cars and take them out on busy roads before they are ready! Â I taught my son to drive, but in a Saturn and on backroads for months before we went out into heavy or fast traffic. Â Bad judgment on the teaching driver's part, by the sound of it. Â I'm sorry for the family who lost their beloved biker, and for the girl who has to live with her mistake. Â What a tragedy.
It was an accident, why do you feel the need to point fingers and make others out to be so bad?
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 @Just Lookin Because I'm sick of people buying giant SUVs and putting their little darlings behind the wheels of them, as if the kids are protected in the armored tanks, and taking chances with the lives of others.  And because I ride motorcycles and unsafe drivers are a huge hazard for people riding motorcycles.  This probably could have been avoided with a little common sense.  I'm not suggesting it wasn't an accident, or that I'm not sorry for those involved.Â
 @etab  @fxholeatheist Point = Over-sized vehicles with inexperienced drivers on busy roads is not good for others on the road.  If that makes me 'silly' or 'selfish', I can live with that, easily.  If you can't understand or get behind my point, oh well.  Safe travels to you and your big truck. Â
@fxholeatheist Maybe I'm sick of people buying tiny little metal motorized bikes that have no airbags, seatbelts, or... oh yeah, doors. I'm really not, but, just as you choose to ride something very vulnerable like a motorcycle, the rest of Americans get to choose to drive a big, small, or medium sized vehicle. I was hit by a drunk driver several years ago and purchased a big truck afterwards and have always felt more safe because of it. Your perspective is but only one; think about others and you may realize how silly and selfish you sound.
I can understand that Mrs Smith can forgive the teen driver whose action took the life of her husband, but somehow forgiveness by her is not really satisfying. Perhaps the investigation will reveal an action or inanction on the part of the driver that can be actionable. I am really sorry for her loss and hope she can put this sorrowful event behind her and move on enjoying the company of her family and the memories of their happiness together.
 @jpk You should read the bible and see what it says about forgiveness
 @jpk It saddens me that you feel you need a satisfying ending that involves some action against the driver. Can't you just accept that accidents happen sometimes. As a society we need to stop looking for someone to blame all the time.
R.I.P Dale! Going to miss seeing you at Landmark
In light of this tragedy, I urge all motorcyclists to wear proper gear...a skull cap and no leathers is not the way to ride and isn't fair to a cager who makes a mistake. Sorry for your loss, Mrs. Smith.
Very classy. People could learn from a woman like this.Â
An amazing woman. Society could take a few pointers from this courageous woman. It would be easy to be bitter in the face of this tragedy and she did not allow her self t be consumed in bitterness.Â
This is a first class lady and I hope she can recover from her loss.
Christie Smith has a good soul, and I hope others will reach out to the young girl that hit her husband as well. I can only imagine what pain and grief this child is going through, one of the toughest of life's lessons she'll learn for sure.
Remarkable story! Â Mrs. Smith, you have a lot of love your heart!
2 great grand children? Teenage pregnancies.
 @on shing dao If he and his wife had children in their early 20's then grandchildren while in their early 40's it is very possible to have great grand children while in their 60's.Â
 @on shing dao Clearly you don't know Christie & Dale Smith and the love they have for their children, adopted ones & biological ones. So don't go doing the math on how they would have grandchildren with your implied judgement. A person you don't even know, my friend Christie, just tragically lost her beloved husband yet showed such grace and compassion for the young girl who hit him and all you can do is judge? Shame on you.
 @samoyans You should see the other comments of the so called compassionate KATU community. Wait until a bicyclist dies, then read the commentary from these same people.
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 @MeatSnak I do actually feel bad. He seems like a nice man. However, to see people who revel in the death of 20-something cyclists, the hypocrisy and irony has been brought to light. Enjoy it.
 @MeatSnak  @on shing dao He's a troll.....
 @shek069  @MeatSnak Ya gotta pay the troll toll.
Sometimes it takes an incredible amount of strength to forgive someone, and Christie Smith has shown that strength. She is an amazing example to her family, her community, and the young driver of the vehicle that took her husband's life. We are all blessed to know and know of such people. We never know when our life or the life of someone we love will end, and what an honor it is to Dale's life and a testimony of Christie's love for him to show such compassion for another. Rest in Peace, Dale. And to Christie, may God bless you with comfort and compassion until you see each other again.
Rest in Peace, Dale Smith. Your wife is a blessing to this young girl, and hearing her words, I'm certain Dale would have said much the same.
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Somehow I'm sure he's left behind a wonderful family.